Celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that damages the villi - the small, finger-like projections that line the small intestine. For people with celiac disease, eating foods containing gluten - a protein found in wheat and other grains - sets off an autoimmune reaction that causes the villi to shorten and eventually flatten. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, regardless of the quantity of food eaten. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to serious long-term conditions such as cancer, osteoporosis, anemia and seizures, and may become life threatening.

Celiac disease is linked to a genetic pre-disposition for the disease. Individuals may show no signs of celiac disease until later in life, when symptoms appear, apparently triggered by surgery, viral infection, pregnancy, childbirth, or a stressful event. Infants and children with celiac disease may fail to grow and develop properly.

A recent study found that some people with celiac disease had neuropathic symptoms before the gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease appeared. The results of this study, and the fact that 10 percent of people with celiac disease suffer from an associated neurological condition (usually peripheral neuropathy or ataxia - a condition characterized by jerky, uncoordinated movements and gait), indicates that patients with neuropathy of an unknown cause should be tested for celiac disease.

Because celiac disease is common in Europe, it is now thought that the disorder has been significantly under-diagnosed in the United States. A study published in the February 10, 2003 Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that one in 133 Americans are at risk for celiac disease (up from earlier estimates of one in 250), yet only one in 4,700 Americans have been diagnosed with it. According to the National Institutes of Health, the reasons for this disparity include: difficulty identifying and diagnosing celiac disease because the symptoms are often attributed to other problems, lack of knowledge about the disease, and a limited number of U.S. laboratories experienced in testing for celiac disease.

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, one of the only medical centers in the Midwest to specialize in treating this disorder, provides patient care, conducts research and promotes public awareness of celiac disease. Their website contains comprehensive information on celiac disease. For more information, call 773.702.7593.

SYMPTOMS

(Not all symptoms and signs may be present.)

Celiac disease affects people differently. Symptoms may or may not show up in the digestive system, and some people who are affected with the disease may not appear to have symptoms.